Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) Civil; British War Medal (WILLIAM TURNBULL); Mercantile Marine Medal (WILLIAM TURNBULL); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45 (unnamed as awarded) - including original case for M.B.E. and box of issue for WWII medals addressed to Mr. Wm. Turnbull, 190 Prince Consort Rd. Gateshead-on-Tyne
William Turnbull was born in Otterburn, Northumberland on 24.12.1883 He served in the Merchant Navy in both World Wars - as a 2nd Engineer in WWI and as a Chief Engineer in WWII. He had initially moved to Canada where he spent a period of two years on the Canadian Pacific Railway and on the Grand Trunk Railway before returning to Tyneside to begin his sea-faring life in 1907 - in a tourist boat to Norway named the "Midnight Sun".
In 1921 he began his 28 years association with Dalgleish Ltd of Newcastle. Coal boats, cargo boars and tankers took him to all parts of the world, and though never sunk by the enemy during WWII, his ship was lost off Aberdeen in a storm in 1944. There were four survivors.
According to the 1939 Register Turnbull was living at 190 Prince Consort Road, Gateshead where he was a Gun Fitter by trade. He is believed to have died in Gateshead in 1955.
Awarded M.B.E. per London Gazette 2.1.1950, in the New Year Honours as Chief Engineering Officer, S.S. "Parkwood" (Constantine Steamship Line, Ltd.)
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with some research.
